Vanilla has many faces – sweet like a cupcake, boozy and intense, raw and earthy. It can be simplistic in its beauty, or it can shine among a complexity of notes. The following six fragrances are all celebrations of the elegant side of vanilla, a note that has been cherished by perfumers for a century. Whether you’re searching for a classy signature or need a special occasion scent, read on to discover the alchemy of this beloved orchid.
Matiere Premiere recently released an intense version of one of their bestsellers: enter Vanilla Powder Extrait. As a fan of the original, I wasn’t sure how the brand could top it – but they certainly succeeded. The extrait has all the punch of the original – vanilla absolute from Madagascar plus white powder – with an extra dose of tonka bean. It also feels like the coconut has been toned down, letting the namesake note take the spotlight. This is not your average vanilla – it’s a dry, elevated, expensive-smelling fragrance that will change the way you view the note.
If you’re looking for a “cool-girl” vanilla, The 7 Virtues has you covered. Amber Vanilla is one of those perfumes that melds with your body chemistry, creating an aura rather than an obvious scent bubble. It smells cozy and inviting, but with an edge provided by pink pepper. Skin musk, Iso E, and amber render it the perfect skin scent for anyone – even those who claim a deep-seated hatred of perfume.
Clean Reserve’s cult-favorite Skin scent is one of my personal favorite fragrances in my collection, so when I saw they had launched a Skin Intense, I was captivated. When I finally got my nose on it, the fragrance profile did not disappoint; it’s still got that musky, irresistible quality to it, but the vanilla is amped up. If you’re worried about it being too gourmand, don’t – to me, it’s an elevated, slightly aquatic vanilla (that sea salt top note is stunning) that feels like a lover’s embrace.
When Tocca announced the addition of Laila to their repertoire, I had no idea what to expect. It’s the first gourmand by the brand, whose prior releases have been delicate florals with the occasional fruity nuance. If you’re like me and don’t consider yourself a gourmand lover, Laila might be the perfect introduction to this category. She’s citrusy and sweet, with accords of rain, cardamom, toasted vanilla, and white woods. This takes me to a quaint Italian bakery somewhere on an island in the Mediterranean, eating a lemon pastry.
Lavender and vanilla is one of the most comforting combinations of notes I’ve come across in my fragrant exploration. There’s something about the herbal serenity of lavender, juxtaposed with sweet, creamy, vanilla, that makes me feel so at peace. One of the best scents in this profile is Guerlain’s Mon Guerlain, a soft, plush celebration of femininity. It smells purple – perhaps it’s the slight powderiness from the iris. This is one of those scents I would recommend to anyone and everyone; it’s a modern classic. Better yet, you can purchase it an incredible price on FragranceNet.com.
Finally, we have the enigmatic Vanille Caviar by BDK Parfums, a captivating cocktail of Madagascan vanilla, Perum balsam, blackcurrant bud, and calamus (a warm, earthy-smelling root oil). This is one of those fragrances I had to get to know before fully appreciating; the first sniff was revelatory, offering a blast of raw, rugged vanilla – not your sweet, creamy vanilla, but the black pods scraped directly out of the plant. There’s a hint of saltiness that adds intrigue, a minerality that ensures you haven’t smelled anything like it before. In the drydown, this is pure sophistication: a smooth, vanillic immersion into shadow.
